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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Jewel Cave National MonumentCave pearls, polished by dripping water (NPS Photo)
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Jewel Cave National Monument
Natural Features & Ecosystems

natural features & ecosystems includes:

Cave Exploration
Geology
Current Research
 
 

The primary resource of Jewel Cave National Monument is the cave itself.  Jewel Cave is a unique world of sparkling calcite crystals, delicate strands of gypsum, and other spectacular cave formations. It contains large rooms strewn with boulders, tight crawlways, and dark fissures leading into the unknown.

 
Calcite rafts in Jewel Cave
NPS Photo
Thin sheets of calcite formed on the surface of an ancient pool of water. The pool is now gone, and only these delicate "calcite rafts" remain.
Gypsum flower
Geology
Cave development and speleothem formation
more...
Cave explorer
Cave Exploration
Exploration, mapping, and fascinating facts
more...
Ultrasonic anemometer
Current Research
Learn about current research at Jewel Cave
more...
A caver measures wind speed at the Humdinger / NPS file photo  

Did You Know?
Due to changes in barometric pressure, strong winds blow through Jewel Cave’s passages miles from the natural entrance. Areas in the cave where the wind is exceptionally strong or loud have names like Hurricane Corner, Whistle Stop, Exhaust Pipe, Humdinger, and Drafty Maneuver.

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Last Updated: August 23, 2006 at 16:57 EST